Safety appliance.



No. 839,404. PATENTED DEC. 25, 1906. H. W. MORRIS.

SAFETY APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1904.

O 6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

'No. 839,404. PATENTED DEC. 25, 1906. H. W. MORRIS.

SAFETY APPLIANCE.

nruouxox rmm my 19, 1904.

\ 6 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

PATENTED DEC. 25, 1906.

H. W. MORRIS. SAFETY APPLIANCE. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 19, 1904.

6 SHEETSSHEET 3.

PATENTED DEC. 25, 1906.

H. W. MORRIS-.- SAFETY APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1904.

6 SHEETS-SHEET No. 839,404. PATENTED DEC. 25, 1906. H. W. MORRIS.

SAFETY APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1904.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

PATENTBD DEC. 25, 1906.

H. W. MORRIS.

SAFETY APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1904.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

' from the usual controlling UNITED STATES PATENT .OFFIQE.

I HARRY W. MORRIS, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO NORTHERNELECTRICAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF WIS- CON SIN.

SAFETY APPLIANCE= Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 25, 1906.

Application filed May 19, 1904. Serial No. 208,671.

Park, county of Cook, and State of Illinois,

have invented certain new and useful Im'- provements in SafetyAppliances, of which the following is a description.

My invention relates to means for controlling the movements of doors,curtains, or the like, especially for closing the same in time of dangerwithout approaching the point from which they are usually controlled andat the same time putting into operation'other devices for reducing thedanger as far as possible.

The object of my invention is to provide a device of the kind describedwhich will'nor-- mally give control of the door or curtain in a simple,positive, and convenient manner, with an emergency device arranged to beput into action from various oints distant evice by the most simplemeans, such as the operationof a switch or the pulling of a rope orcord, whereby the door or curtain will immediately close the opening towhich it is fitted without regard to the position or movements of theusual controlling means and simultane ously perform such other functionsfor which the mechanism may have been arrangedfor example, in case offire upon the stage of atheater, in addition to lowering the fireproofcurtain, to open or close ventilators in various locations, unlockexits, and light guide-lamps to the same, or, in case of fire in astore, factory, or the like, to close the firedoors', confining the fireto the section Where it originated, unlock exits, light guide-lights tothe same, and-turn on a supply of water to suitable sprinklers, and incase of serious damage and leakage or fire in a vessel to enable thebulkhead-doors to be closed and pumps started from the bridge,engine-room,

or any other part of the ship desired, and in each case the operationsare performed without a possibility of interference from an excitedattendant or others.

To this end my' invention consists in the novel construction,arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described, andmore particularly pointed out in the claims. i

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like or similar referencecharacters indicate or the like.

like or corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a view from the stage of aproscenium-opening and fireproof-curtain equipped with my device. Fig. 2is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified form of my device. Fig.3 is a diagram showing a simple form of electric wiring for producingthe desired results. Fig. 4 is a diagram of wiring in which two sourcesof electric energy are arranged so that either maybe used, as desired.Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a hoist for my device. Fig: 6 is a view ofa part of the hoist shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a cross-section of aventilator Which is arranged to be opened by my emergency device. Fig. 8is a view similar toFig. 7, showing a modified arrangement of theopening device.

In the drawings, 1 is a curtain arranged to slide before and close theopening 2 in the wall 3 As shown in the drawings, the curtain 1 is drawnupward to clear the opening by means of the ropes 4 4, passing over-the"sheaves 5 5 and 6 6, which after being united by the equalizingmechanism 7 to the rope 8 leads to the drum. of the hoist 9, situated asmay be preferred. A counterweight 10 may be attached to the rope 8 topartially balance the weight of the curtain 1, and reduce the powerrequired to raise the same;

A rope 11 is wound upon a drum of the hoist 9 in such a manner that asthe rope 8 is wound onto the drum the rope 11 will be unwound, and viceversa, the surfaces on which the ropes 8 and 11 wind being soproportioned that the two will travel at the same speed.

In Fig. 1 the rope 11 is attached to the tworopes 12, which after passinsuitable guidesheaves 1 4 are attached to t 1e lower edge of thecurtain 1. In this form the power of the hoist is applied directly tothe curtain to move it either way, and it is obvious that the same maybe arranged to be moved horizontally to clear the opening 2, if desired.

' In this specification where the word cur tain is used I desire it tobe understood as referring to a door, curtain, screen, or gate adaptedto be actuated by weights or its own 7 weight to normally close anopening, but which may be moved in any direction to clear the same. Alsoby the word rope I refer to any suitable connectin means, such as chain,wire, metal cable, fi%e r ropes,

and movement of the curtain 1 are normally controlled by means of theswitch 16, which controls the operations of an electric motorcontrolling .the movement of the winding mechanism of thehoist 9, whichmay be either a small motor arranged to control the delivery of power tothe curtain-moving mechanism or a motor attached to the powerreceivingshaft of a winding-machine, with suflicientpower to operate the same.-Where electric ower is. employed to turn the windingmec ianism, arheostat 16 may be arranged to control thespeed of the curtain movementsand prevent injuring the motor by throwingthe-fullcurrent u on the sametoo suddenly. It is desirable a so to arrange a safety eviceof any ofthe well-known forms: used on elevators and the like to revent thecurtain being drawn beyond the im- I out going to the switch 16 ornotifying any one who may be stationed there as a regular attend ant-llhave arranged two systems of emergency devices which willcause thecurtain to close the opening and at the same time au tomatically performsuch other operations as may have been previously arranged for toinsurethe safety of people or property in the vicinityfor example, in afactory, schoolhouse, store, theater, or any place where eople areliable to be congregated in num ers and exposed to danger from fire orother causein conjunction with closing the firedoor to confine the fireto the place of its origin, tounlock the exits, expose or light signalsor guide-lights directing the people to a means of escape, open or closeventilators, turn .a supply of water into sprinkling systerns,- or anyother desired operation that may be performed mechanically.

The. first emer ency device to be explained is the ropes 20, s ownattached to a lever on the hoist 9 and ositioned at either side ofthecurtain 1. his device is provided to guard against the possiblederangement of themotor operating the winding mechanism at any timepreventing the operation of the curtain, and attendant devices. F orthis purpose I have provided the winding mechanism with a drum or drumswhich are arranged to be "disconnected from the motor y the movement ofthe lever to which the close the opening by its Weight.

scenes rope 20 is attached, allowing the curtain to As shown, theseropes are deflected-by suitable sheaves 21, and a weight 22 is attachedto each to keep it in position. It is obvious that as many ropes may beattached to the lever of the hoist 9 as desired and conducted to anypoint desired and that in case it is found that .there is danger ofaccidentally moving the lever as heavy a weight as desired may beattached to the same. The second emergency devices consists of a seriesof push-buttonsor'switches :18, which may be placed at such points asdesired to control the emergency operation of the curtain. Theseswitches are so arranged, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3, that whenthe current is closed by any of them the switch 16 willbe immediatelycut out of circuit and the-current closed to operate the motor to closethe opening 2 and simultaneously perform any of the operationspreviously described or which may be desired.

In the diagram Fig-3 to avoid unnecessary complications such parts as:the main switches, fuse-blocks, &c., have been omitted and only theparts and wires necessary to explain the operation of the system areshown and all reduced to the simplest form, in

which the curtain-controlling.switch 16 is shown with the center clips23, the upper clips 24 and lower clips 25, the rheostat 17, thegenerator 26, the motor 27, with the field 29 and armature 28, a coilfor an electric brake or stop 30 to stop and hold the door when thecurrent is oil .the motor, a solenoid 31, controlling the switches 32and 33, and other solenoids 34 34, which are for operating ventilators,doors, or any other purposes and whose numbers maybe increased, asrequired, and the lights 35 and 36.

By following the wiring in the diagram in Fig. 3 it ,will be-seen thatwhen the clips 23 23 and 24 24 of the switch 16 are connected,hereinafter referred to as first position/T the electric current willpass from the dynamo 26 by the conductor 37 and flow through thefollowing conductors and parts in the order named: 38, clip 24", one barof the switch 16 to clip 23, conductors 39, a bar of switch 32,conductors 40 and 41to armature 28, passing through the same from leftto right to conductor 42, a second bar of switch 32, conductor 43 toclip 23* of switch 16 and by a second bar of said switch to clip 24 andconductors 44 45, arm 46, and resistances 47 47 of rheostat 17 toconductors 48, a third bar of switch 32, conductor 49, a magnetic brake30 and the field 29 of the motor 27, passing through the held from rightto left and from the field 29 by conductor 50 to the device 53 forpreventingovertravel of the curtain and from the device 53 by conductor54, a fourth bar of switch 32 andconductor 55 to clip 24*, and a thirdbar'of switch 16 to clip 23 and esacoe conductors 63 and 62 to thedynamo 26, completing the circuit and causing the motor 27 to rotate ina direction to preferably raise the curtain 1.

With the switch 16 openthat is, with the clips 23 23 not connected toeither clips 24 24 or 25 25 and hereinafter referred to as secondpositionit will be seen by following conductors 37 38 or 58 56 that theyare not connected at any oint with conductors 62 or 60 except by t elight 35, and this will not cause any current to fiowthrough the motoror any other machine in the circuit, and therefore no movement will takeplace at the curtain 1.

With the bars of switch 16 connectin clips 23 23 and 25 25 ,andhereinafter referre to as third position, the current will pass from thedynamo 26 by conductors 37 and 38 to clip 24 and to clip 25 by conductor64, from clip 25 by the switch-bar to clip 23 and by conductor 43, onebar of switch 32, conductor 42 to the armature 28 of the motor 27,passing through the same from right to left, and by conductor 41 40, asecond bar of switch 32 and conductor 39 to the clip 23 of switch 16thence by a second bar of switch 16 to clip 25 and by conductor 45 tothe arm 46 and resistances 47 47 of rheostat 17 and by conductor 48, athird bar of switch 32 and conductor 49 throu h the magnetic brake 30 tothe field 29 of t e motor 27, passing through the field from rightv toleft, and from the field 29 by conductor 50 to the limiting device 53and by conductors 51 and 52 to the clip 25 of switch 16, and by a thirdbar of the switch to clip 23, and thence by conductors 63 and 62 to thedynamo 26, completing the circuit, and as the current passes through thearmature in an opposite direction to that described when the switch 16was in first position, while the current passes through the field in thesame direction as for first position, the motor will rotate in the op-'posite direction or will move the curtain 1 down to close the'opening 2.

I When any of the emergenc -switches or push-buttons 18 are employe toclose the circuit between conductors and 56, the current will pass fromthe dynamo 26 by the conductors 37 and 58 to conductor,59, where thecurrent is divided, a part going through the wire of the solenoid 31 tothe conductor 7 56 and the remainder going through thewires of thesolenoids 34 34, then by conductor to 56. From 56 thecurrent passes bythe switch 18, which is closed to 60 and 62, to the dynamo, completingthe circuit by the current passing through the wires of the solenoids 34and 31.

The solenoids 34 are employed as operating means controlling variousdevices. For example, there are well-known means for unlocking doors bythis means and for operating switches controlling electric lights andfor opening a valve controlling a Water-supply, and others. In Figs. 7and 8 I have shown how ventilators may be either opened or closed by theaction of a solenoid and will hereinafter explain the working of thesame.

The solenoid 31 is arranged to control the switches 32 and 33. Upon thepassa e'of the electric current through the wires 0 this solenoid theplunger is drawn from its normal position (shown in the drawings andswitch 32 is opened at the same time switch 33 is closed and by meansnot shown is retained in this position until released. It may be notedthat the opening of switch 32 breaks the electrical connection to eachof the wires 39, 43, 48, and 55, which are all the wires leading fromthe switch 16 and rheostat 17, and leaves them out of the circuitwithout regard to the position of their movable parts.

By the closing of the switch 33 the current 'will pass from'the dynamoto the armature 28 by the conductor 37, one bar of the switch 33,conductors 57 and 42, and pass through the armature from right to left.From the armature the current will pass by conductors 41, a second barof switch 33, and conductors 61 and 49 through the magnetic brake 30 tothe field 29 of the motor 27, passing through the field from right toleft, from the field 29', by conductor '50, to the limiting device 53and by the conductor 51, a third bar of switch 33 and conductor 62 tothe dynamo again. It will be observed the current passes through thefield and armature in the same directions as described when the bars ofthe switch 16 were in the third position, or the position for loweringthe curtain 1 to close the opening 2, and hence the curtain will belowered when any of the switches 13 are closed.

To provide against the possible failure of a system when the electricalenergy is derived from a single dynamo or other source of such energy, asecond source of energy may be so wired and connected that in case offailure of the regular source of energy from any cause an automaticswitch will immediately corinect the sytem to the alternate source or asecond series of push buttons or switches (shown in broken lines at 19in Figs. 1 and 2) may be installed. A die ram of an arrange-i ment ofwiring to accomplish this is shown in Fig. 4. In this figure, 26 is thedynamo whose current is usually employed and 66 a dynamo whose currentmay be available in case the dynamo 26 is not in operation for anycause. For example, 26 may be a dynamo installed to supply current tothe building in which the curtain 1 is situated, and 66 may be a dynamoin a public light and power station or a storage battery. In

this arrangement, with switch 16 in first position, the current passesfrom the dynamo 26 by the conductor 37, and fiows through the followingconductors and parts in the order named: from conductor 37 to one bar ofswitch 92, conductors 70, 68, and '38, to clip 24, one bar of switch 16to clip 23, conduc tor 39, 'a bar of switch 32, conductor 74, a secondbar of switch :92, conductors 78 and '81 to the armature 28 of motor 27passing through the same from left to right, then by conductor 80, athird bar of switch 92, condnctor 7.5, a second bar of .switch .32,condnctor 43, to clip 23 of switch 16, through a second bar of thisswitch to clip 24", then by eonductors 44 45, the arm and resistances 4747 of the rheostat 17,and conductor 48 to a third bar of switch 32,conductor 73, a fourth bar of switch 92 conductors 82 and 79, throughthe magnetic brake 30, to the field 29 of the motor 27, passing throughthe field from right to left, then by conductors 50, device 53,conductor 75, a fifth bar .of switch 92, conductor 71, a fourth bar ofswitch 32, and conductor 72 to clip 24, a third bar of switch 16 toclips 23*, conductors '98 69 94, a sixth bar of switch 92, and con-.ductor 62, back to the dynamo 26 complet- :ing the circuit and causingthe motor 27 to operate the winding mechanism 9 to raise the curtain 1.

With the switch 16 in second position, by following the conductor 37 toa bar of the switch 92 the conductor 68 and others connecting theretowhich are '38 and 64, the .con-

.ductor 77, also following the conductor 62 hack to a second bar ofswitch 92 and then conductor 94 to 69 and its branches 98 and 99, wefind that the circuit is not closed at any point except through theiights 35, and that this will not cause any current to flow through themotor 27, magnetic brake .30, nor through any of the solenoids. With theswitch 16 in the third position the current flows from the dynamo 26, byconductors 37 a bar of switch 292, and conductors 70,68, and 38, to clip24 of the switch 16 and by conductor 64 to clip 25 of same, then by a[bar of the switch 16 to clip 23 .andconductor 43, a bar of switch 32,conductor 75, a second bar of switch 92, and conductor 80 to thearmature 28 of the motor 27, passing through the same from right toleft, then by conductors 81 78, a third bar of switch 92, conductor 74,a second bar of switch 32, and conductor 39 to clip 23 of switch 16, andby a second bar of switch 16 to clip 25, and by conductor 45,.the arm46, and resistances 47 47 of rheostat 17 and conductor 48, a :third barof switch 32, conducas the current passes through the armature sseeoe ofmotor 27 in an opposite direction while tion as when switch 16 was infirst position the motor will run in a reverse direction to its previousmotion and the curtain 1 will be lowered.

If any of the emergency-switches 18 are closed, connecting conductors 56and 100, the effect will be that the current from the dynamo will flowby the conductor 37 to the conductor 59 and from 59 a part passing byconductor 101 to the solenoids 34, performingany of the functionspreviously described for these parts, and the remainder going tosolenoid 31, causing the plunger to move in a direction to open switch'32 and close switch 33, means (not shown) being provided to retain themin this position until released, and by following the conductors 72, 48,39, and 43, which are leftopen by the opening of switch 32, no currentwill flow through the switch 16 or rheostat 17 nor will their positionaffect the action of the other parts of the circuit. By the closing ofthe switch 33 connection is made to the motor to cause it to operate thehoist to lower the curtain 1, as follows: Commencing at the dynamo, thecurrent passes by conductor 37, a bar of switch 92, conductors 68, a barof switch 33, conductors 104 and to and passing through from right toleft the armature 28 of motor 27 from the armature by conductors 81 78,a second barof switch 33 and conductor 179, passing through the magneticbrake 30 to and passing through from right to left the field 29 of motor27 and by conductor 50, limiting device 53, conductor 51, a third bar ofswitch 33, conductors 99 69 94, a second bar of switch 92, and byconductor 62 back to the dynamo, completing the circuit and flowingthrough the field and armature in the same direction, respectively, asin the third position of the switch 16, lowering the curtain 1, asbefore stated.

Incase of accident to dynamo 2-6 or to connections which would preventthe emergency operation of the system it may be arranged to be shown byits extinguishing a light 35 or a plurality of lights distributed aspreferred. Theselights may be placed near the switches orpush-buttons18, if desired; but it is preferred that the conductors supplying energyto these lights be connected to the main circuit at the points shown.

It will be observed that with the solenoid in its normal position shownthe conductors 67 and 93 from dynamo 66 are attached to contact for theopen bars of the switch 92 and that the plunger of the solenoids 90 and31 are connected by a rope 103, passing over suitable guidesheaves andso arranged that either plungef is free to be moved in its emergencyposition when the other plunger is in its normal position, but that bothcannot be in emergency position at the same time.

passing through the field in the same direc-v rent will flow fromconductor 67 by conductor 87, a portion passing at once through theright to left through the armature 28 of mowires of the solenoid 90 toconductor 88 and the remainder going by conductor 10.5 to solenoids 95,arranged to operate the same devices that solenoids 34 operate,preferably by being arranged to act upon connected cores or plungers.The current after passing the wire of solenoids 95. passes by conductor106 to 88 and by the closed switch 19 to conductor 89 and by it toconductor 93, leading to dynamo 66. The action of the current onsolenoid 90 moves its plunger, closing the two open bars of switch 92and opening the remaining bars, also closing switch 91. By following theconductors 72 71, 48 73, 39 74, and 43 7 5,5 barof switch 32 beingincluded in each line, it will be seen that the opening of the closedbars of switch 92 cuts out switch 16 and rheostat 17, also the dynamo26, by opening the switch at the ends of conductors 37 and- 62. Thecurrent will then flow through the conductors 67, a bar of switch 92,conductors 68 77, a bar of switch 91, con ductors 84, 104, and 80 to andpassing from tor 27 by conductors 81 78 86, a second bar of switch 91conductors 83, 82, and 79, passing the magnetic brake 30, to and passingfrom right to left through the field 29 of the motor 27, then byconductor 50, the limit device 53, conductor 51 85, a third bar ofswitch 91, conductor 69, a second bar of switch 92,.and conductor 93,completing the I circuit, and as the current passes through the fieldand armature of the motor 27 in the same directions, respectively, aswhen switch 16 was in third position the winding mechanism will turn inthe same direction and the curtain 1 will be lowered. In the preferredarrangement a light is arranged near each of the switches 18, connectedto the main circuit, as for light 35, to indicate, if lighted, that theemergency device controlled by the swit hes 18 would operate to lowerthe door 1, also the lights 96 are preferably arranged tion to theswitches19.

near the switches 19 for a similar purpose.

The lights 36 are also arranged, preferably,

near the switches 18 and cannot be. lighted except by closing one-of theswitches 18, putting the emergency devices in operation, and the lights97 are similarly arranged in rela- In case of an emergency and neither"the lights 35 nor 96 are lighted or upon closing the switches 18 or 19the lights 36 or 97 do not light the emergency device first describedcanbe employed.

In Figs. 5 and 6 e'neral arrangement of a simple form of win ing mchanism suited to accomplish the results heretofore described are shown,in which 107 is a winding-drum to which ro e 8 may lead, rotatablymounted upon a sha t 108, ut prevented from moving longitudinallythereon by the hub of a wormear 109 and a collar 110, which are secureupon the shaft 108 at either end of the hub 111 of the drum 107. Asuitable friction-surface 112 is arranged upon the drum 107, and dentalsor projecting engaging parts are formed upon the end 113 of the hub 111,adapted to enga e with similar of reversible motor controlla le by anelectric current, or it may be driven from any convenient source andmeans rovided whereby it may be made to rotate lIl either direction bythe operation, if an electric appliance, to accomplish an equivalentresult. In the preferred form a magnetic brake is arranged to controlthe movements of the shaft 116 when the same is not controlled by theelectric motor or other electric 9o controlling device reviouslydescribed. For this pur ose I em lby any of the well-known forms 0brakes w ich are arranged to be automatically applied at all -times thatthe electric current is not passing through its 5 coils. The clutch 114is mounted upon the shaft 108 and arranged to engage a feather 119 orequivalent means for preventing rotation between the shaft and clutch,but permitting sufficient longitudinal movement of said clutch to enablethe dentals or rojections thereofto be disenga ed from t edentals orprojections upon t e hub 111,.permitting the drum 107 to be revolvedupon the shaft 108. A brake-head 120, provided r05 with afriction-surface 121 is mounted upon the cylindrical exterior of theclutch 114 and 1 arranged to be moved longitudinally thereon to bringthe cofjperating friction-surfaces 112 and 121 into contact to retard orprevent any 1 I o rotation of the drum 107, the head being securedagainst rotation by' the arm 122, arranged thereon, engagin a suitableslot or equivalent means\upon't e base 123. A lever 124, near one end ofwhich is attached a 115 rope 20, is divided near its other end andpivotally attached to a bracket 125 upon the stand 117. At the ends ofthe divided parts of the lever 124 two projections 126 and 127 areformed, the projections 127 attaching, by 1 20 means of a link 128, toone side of the brakehead 120. The opposite side is connected by meansof the link 130 and the lever 129, pivotally connected to a secondbracket 131 upon the stand 117 and to the projections 12 5 126, asshown, the projections 126 and 127 and the lever 129 being soproportioned'that the ends .of the links 128 and 130, attaching tothehead 120, will always move the same distance for anychange 111 theposition of 1 9 lever 124. The ring. 132, loosely fitting a concentricgroove formed in one end of the periphery of the clutch 1 14, isprovided at its diametrically opposite sides with means for pivotallyengaging the projections 126. Thus the lo itudlnal position of theclutch 114 and bra e-head 120 relative to the drum 107 is controlled bythe vertical position of the end ofthe lever 124, to which the rope isattached as the end of the lever 124 is drawn upward by the rope 20. The

wiring of the solenoids.

clutch 114 is moved away from the hub 111 of the drum 107 and thebrake-head moved towardthe drum, the parts being so proportioned thatthe dentals or projections upon the clutch 114 and the hub 111 will bedisengaged, leaving the drum free to revolve upon the shaft 108 beforethe friction-surfaces 112 and 121 are brought into contact. A. furtherelevation of the end of the lever 124 brings the friction-surfacestogether and tends to hold the drum 107 from revolving upon the shaft orto retard its motion, if revolving. It is obvious that, with the curtain1 suspended by a rope 8, wound upon the drum 1 07, when the rope 20 ispulled, first, that the-excess of the weight in the curtain 1 over thecounterweight will revolve the drum 107 upon the shaft 108 and thecurtain will move downward and that still further pulling upon the rope2-0 will bring the friction-surfaces 121 and 112 into contact andcontrol the speed of movement of the curtain 1 by the amount of ressurebetween the friction-surfaces w ich is controlled by the pull on therope 20.

In Figs. 7 and 8 a simple device is shown for releasing the ventilatordoors or covers 133,. allowing them to fall open when any emer' encydevice is used to close the openin 2'. n Fig. 7 the solenoids 34 34 areprovided with plungers -135, the lower ends of which are formed toengage suitable means upon the brackets 1-36 136-, attached to the doors133 133 upon opposite sides of the ventilator, when the electric circuitis closed through the The plungers 135 are-drawn out of engagement withthe brackets, permitting the doors to fallopen. To provide for theopenin of the doors 133 133 whenthe emergency evice' is operated, ofwhich rope 20 is a part, I attach ropes, 137 137 to the plungers 135 135 and after passing. the same over the sheaves 134 134 attach them tothe rope 20 at a point where the movement of the weight 22 when the rope20 isdrawn upward to operate the lever 124 will withdraw the plungers135 from enga ement with the brackets 136, permitting t e doors to fallopen. If desired a fusible con nection may be arran ed to support afweight, as 139, which is a so attached to a rope 138, attached to therope 137 .after passin over the sheaves 134 from the lunger 135. 11 caseof fire the joint 140 W11 sepaseaeoe rate and the weight upon rope 139will with' draw the plungers, as before, and the ventilators will beautomatically opened without either of the emergency devices being 0erated. If desired, a rope 141 may be attached 7o to one of the ropes137 or to any part which will operate by the movement of the weight 22,leading to other ventilator-doors or toother apparatus which it isdesired tooperate by the movement of the weight 22 and 75 rope 20. InFig. 8 spring or gravity catohe's'-142 are arranged to hold the'doors133 133 closed, and a single solenoid 34 is arranged to move an armattached to the shaft 150, mounted in suitable bearings, to permitof itsbeing partially rotated. Other similar arms are arranged upon the shaftand may extendin opposite directions to operate catches 142 upon doorsupon opposite sides of the venti- 8 5 lator by means of ropes 146 and147, which are attached to the extremities of thearms and after passingover suitable sheaves14-1attached to the bolts of thecatches, as shown.When the electric circuit is closed through the wiring of the solenoid34, the plunger 1.48 is drawn farther into the solenoid and the shaftpartially rotated, drawing: the plun- *ers upward out of engagement withthe brackets 136 upon the-doors 133 and allowing the doors to fall open.The provision for withdrawing the plungers 143 u on the lowering of theweight 22, attache to the emergency-rope 20, is clearly shownin the rope137 passin over the sheave 134 and attaching to the p unger 148 of thesolenoid 34, also the arrangement of the fusible connection 140, wherebyu on the breaking of the connection by heat t e weight 139 will comeupon the ro e 152, attached to the plunger 148 of the so enoid 34,withdrawing the plungers 143, as before described. It is obvious thatthe shaft 150 may be extended, as desired, and a plurality of arms 142and 151 arranged, as preferred, to operate a plurality of doors 133, ifdesired, or that the solenoidplungers 135 in Fig. 7 or the bolts 143 inFig. 8 may be arranged to hold the doors 133 open -instead of closed,the doors being so arranged that the withdrawal of thebolts 135 and 143would cause the doors 133 to close instead of open, also that wherethere are several open I ings 2 each opening may be suppliedwith acurtain 1, arrange I to be operated simultaneously by the switch 16,hoist 9, and. emer ency devices, or that each curtain 1 may ave a switch16 and hoist, so that their movements may be normally controlled in'dependently, but all arranged to be'closed simultaneously by a singleset of emergency devices.

In the foregoing s ecifioation and in the dia rams of wiring l haveshown and de ed the emergency switches as operating scr1 upon what isknown as an open-circuit ing from the spirit of my invention.

esaaoa system, and it is deemed unnecessary to show or describe inaddition a similar closed-circuit system,,as any one skilled inelectrical wiring can change from one systein to the other withoutdetailed instruction. I wish it to be understood, however, that either aclosed or open' circuit may be employed, as preferred. It is alsoobvious that various modifications may be introduced to produce theresults described without depart- Hence I do not wish to be understoodas limiting myself to the exact form or arrangement in detail shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device of the kind described, comprising a vertically-movablecurtain adapted to close an opening, movable means for supporting saidcurtain, and means for controllin said supports so as to positivelyraise an lower said curtain, in combination with means adapted to beoperated from a distant point, for disconnecting said controlling meansand causing said curtain to close said opening.

2. A device of the kind described, comprising a movable curtain adaptedto close an opening, movable means for su porting said curtain, andmeans for controlling said supports and thereby the movements of saidcurtain, in combination with meansadapted to be operated from any one ofa plurality of distant points, for disconnecting said controlling meansand causing said curtain to close said opening.

3. A device of the kind described, comprising a movable curtain adaptedto close an opening, movable means for su portin said curtain, and meansfor control ing said supports and thereby the movements of said curtain,in combination with means adapted to be operated from a distant point,for simultaneously disconnecting said controllin means, causing saidcurtain to close said opening, and starting the operationof otherdevices for minimizing the effect of fire, water, gas, or otherdestructive agent.

4. A device of the kind described, comprising a movable curtain adaptedto close an opening, movable means for supportin said curtain and meansfor controlling sai supports and thereby the movements of said curtain,in combination with a plurality of independent devices each adaptedto beoperated from points distant from said controlling means fordisconnecting the controllin means and causing said curtain to close saiopening.

5. A device of the kind described, comprising a movable curtain adaptedto close an opening, movable means for supportin said curtain and meansfor controlling sai supports and thereby the movements of said curtain,in combination with a plurality of independent devices each adapted tobe operated from points distant -from said controlling means iorsimultaneously disconnecting said controlling means, causing saidcurtain to close said opening and starting the operation of otherdevices for minimizing the effects of fire, gas, water, ,or otherdestructive agent.

6. A device of the kind described, comprising a movable curtain adaptedto close an opening, and a controlling-switch adapted to operate anelectric current to control the movements of said curtain, incombination with a plurality of emergency switches positioned at pointsdistant from said controlling-switch, the operation of any of saidemergency-switches simultaneously causing said curtain to close saidopening, and temporarily severing the connections between saidcontrolling-switch and said curtain.

7. A device of the kind described, comprising a movable curtain adaptedto close an opening and a controlling-switch adapted to operate anelectric current to control the movements of said curtain, incombination with a plurality of emergency-switches posi-v tioned atpoints distant from said controllingswitch, the operation of any of saidemergency-switches simultaneously causing said curtain to close saidopening, temporarily severing the connections between saidcontrolling-switch and said curtain, and operating other devices forminimizing the effect of fire, water, gas or other destructive agents.

8. A device of the kind described, comprising a movable curtain adaptedto close an opening, and a controlling-switch adapted to operate anelectric current to control the movements of said curtain, incombination with a plurality of emergency-switches and a pluralityofconnections for o crating emergency means independent oi said electriccurrent, the operation of an of said emergency devices, simultaneous ycausing said curtain to close said opening, and temporarily severing theconnections between sald controlling-switch and said curtain.

9. A device of the kind described, comprising a movable curtain adaptedto close an opening, and a controlling-switch adapted to operate anelectric current to control the movements of said curtain,in'combination with a plurality of emergency-switches and a plurality ofconnectors for operating emergency means independent of said electriccurrent, the operation of any of said emergency devices simultaneouslycausing said curtain to close said opening, temporarily severing theconnection between said controllingswitch and said curtain, andoperating other devices for minimizing the efiect of fire, water, gas orother destructive agent.

10. In combination, a motor, switch apparatus for varying the directionof rotation and speed of said motor, a relay for disconnecting the motorfrom said switch apparatus and connecting the motor for rotation in onedirection only, and one or more switches for controlling said relay.

11. In combination, a movable curtain arranged to close an opening, amotor for operatirrrg said curtain, switch apparatus arranged to connectsaid motor for rotation in eitherdli- I rection in order to open orclose said opening,

a relay for disconnecting said motor from said switch'appa-ratus andconnecting. it for rotation in the direction to cause the curtain rangedto disconnect said motor from saidswitch apparatus and to connect it forrotation only in the direction to lower the curtain, and emergency meansfor disconnecting the curtain from the motor to permit the curtain todrop under the action of gravity.

B. In combination, a vertically-movable curtain arranged to close anopening, a motor, a clutch between said motor and curtain, switchapparatus for connecting said motor for rotation in either direction soas to raise or lower said curtain, emergency-switch mechanism arrangedto disconnect said motor from said switch a paratus and to connect itfor rotation only in the direction to lower the curtain, and emergencymeans for operating said clutch to disconnect the curtain from themotor.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

HARRY W. MORRIS. Witnesses:

Bnn'ron U. HrLLs, CHARLES I. COBB.

